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Keep children and pets away from any standing flood water, as it is often contaminated. Place the pump at the lowest spot of the flooded floor. If the water is deep, you may need to lower the pump using a nylon rope. If dealing with a small amount of flooding, you may be able to use a wet-dry shop vacuum to remove the water. These often iPhone 7 Water Damage Repair Brownsdale MN 55918 only hold 4”5 gallons (15.1”18.9 L), so you may find yourself emptying it often. 6 Clean up debris. Be careful, as there could be nails and other materials left behind by the flood water. Mud left behind by floods often contain a significant amount of toxins. Shovel out as much mud as possible, and spray down your walls with clean water. Make sure to check for mud Brownsdale MN 55918 in air ducts, as it will be hazardous when it dries. Snakes and rats may seek shelter in your home after a flood 7 Allow appliances to air dry. Do not use any appliances or outlets until they have had enough time to completely dry. Check with each manufacturer for recommended action. Method 2 Vanquishing Mold and Mildew 1 Detect the mold. Mold can be visible, Inc. Brownsdale MN 55918 but it can also grow in air ducts, crawl spaces, rafters, and between walls. If you can’t see any mold, but you detect a noticeable musty earth smell, you most likely have mold growth that you can’t see. 2 Act quickly after discovering water damage. Mildew and mold will begin developing within 24-48 hours of exposure to moisture. It will quickly continue to grow until the Brownsdale MN 55918 moisture is completely removed and the mold is exterminated. 3 Turn off the power. If any cables or wiring are wet or moldy, shut the power off before cleaning. Have an electrician examine the wiring before turning the power back on again. 4 Dry out the area. You will want to dry out the moldy or wet area as quickly as possible to prevent the mold Brownsdale MN 55918 from spreading. The longer you leave an area wet, the more likely mold will form. Open the windows if humidity outside is lower than inside. Use fans to remove moisture only if mold has not started growing. Fans can spread mold spores to other areas. Remove all wet items from the area, including furniture, carpets, toys, etc. Throw away any moldy carpeting. Mold will be almost Brownsdale MN 55918 impossible to remove from the carpet fibers. All other items can be cleaned and disinfected separately. Discard any contaminated food products. This means anything not sealed in a watertight container. 5 Remove moisture from walls and ceilings. If the wall has been water damaged by a flood, you will need to remove all of the wet material, including insulation, wood by-products, and anything else porous. Drywall Brownsdale MN 55918 is incredibly porous and should be replaced at the soonest sign of water damage. Remove the wallboard to a foot above the watermark. You can drain walls by removing the baseboard and drilling holes into the floor. Make sure to check the interior of the wall for any hidden mold growth. 6 Size up the mold growth. If you are faced with a significant amount of Brownsdale MN 55918 mold growth, consider hiring professional cleaners. Mold is very hazardous when being cleaned, because disturbing the mold will cause it to release spores. Make sure that the area you are cleaning is well-ventilated. Always wear gloves, a mask or respirator, and eye protection. 7 Clean hard surfaces. Material such as metal, solid wood, plastic, and glass should be washed first with a non-ammonia soap and hot Brownsdale MN 55918 water. Use a stiff brush on rough surfaces such as concrete. Use a wet-dry shop vacuum to remove standing water. Disinfect all surfaces after cleaning with a 10% bleach solution. Allow the solution to stay on the surface for at least 10 minutes before rinsing with clean water or drying. 8 Clean porous materials. Upholstered furniture, clothing, bedding, rugs, carpets, books, and more are all porous Brownsdale MN 55918 items. If you can’t decide whether to keep a contaminated object or not, err on the side of caution and throw it out. Clean the material and then disinfect with a pine-oil cleaner. Let the material dry completely. Monitor the material for several days after cleaning for any fungal growth or odors. If mold returns, be sure to discard the item. 9 Stop cleaning if you Brownsdale MN 55918 start exhibiting symptoms of mold exposure. As soon as you start feeling adverse effects, stop what you are doing and consult a professional cleaning service. Signs include: Breathing difficulties, including wheezing